Is my visor road legal?

I belong to a biker club and was warned by another member that my tinted visor could be illegal (too dark).  I bought it from a reputable website shop so would find that a bit surprising. Should I be worried?

Justin, by email

Answer

Visors must either meet a British Standard and display a BSI Kitemark, or meet a European standard offering at least the same safety and protection as the British Standard and carry a mark equivalent to the BSI Kitemark (UNECE Regulation 22.05).

During the day, a tint of up to 50% is acceptable according to Government guidance. Legal tinted visors will state “daylight use only”. You should also always make sure your visor is clean and free of smudges, scratches or marks which could affect your vision.

Different police forces and officers tend to use their discretion as to whether or not to pull over and speak to someone riding in worsening light with a dark visor. However, if you were to be involved in an accident, the police or insurance companies could investigate the visor and whether it had any impact. An insurance company could potentially reduce the value of a claim if the tinted visor was used in poor light and was a contributing factor to an accident. The police use a device called a Tintman to work out how much light the visor lets through.